Capping mechanism



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May l2, 1931. Q MQRROW CAPPING MECHANSM Filed May 22, 1928 4 Sheng-sheet2 May l2, 1931. c. MoRRow CAPPING MECHANISM Filed May y22, 1928 4Sheets-Sheet 3 May 12, 1,931. c; MORRQW 1,804,637

GAPPING MECHANISM Fmg; May 22, 1928 4 sheets-sheet 4 INVENTOR maticallyPatented May 12, 1931 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE CLIFFORD MORROW, OFCANTON, )I-IIO, ASSIGNOR T0 THE H. H. MILLER INDUSTRIES COMPANY, OFCANTON, OHIO, A CORPORATION OF OHIO CAPPING MECHANISM Application meaMay 22,

This invention relates to a mechanism for capping bottles. The inventionis shown embodied in a form of construction for successively feedingcaps of the disk type and positioning them within the mouth of a bottle.

The invention is also shown embodied or incorporated in a constructioncapable of first filling the bottles, so that the movable member whichsupports the bottles while being filled serves also as the movablesupport for the bottles while being capped.

One object of the invention is to provide an improved capping mechanismwhich autooperates to prevent feeding or positiomng of a cap or capsexcept when a bottlelisin position to receive a cap, Whereby waste ofcaps and danger ofy jamming of the mechanism is eliminated.

Another object of the invention is to provide an improved bottle cappingmechanism that is relatively simple and positive in operation. f

Other objects of the invention will be apparent to those skilled in theart to which my invention vrelates from the following description takenin connectionwith the accompanying drawings, wherein Fig. 1 is asectionall View of a combined filling and capping mechanism embodyingluy-invention; this view being a section substantially on the lline 1-1of Fig. 2.

Fig. 2 is a section on the line 2 2 of Fig. l, showing the cappingmechanism in plan.

Fig. 3 is a-front elevation of the capping mechanism detached from itssupport, but with the cap feeder in locked position.

Fig. 4 is a side elevation of the parts shown 'in Fig. 3.

Fig. 5 isa plan-viewy ofthe parts shown ini-Figs. 3 and'4.A

` Fig-6 is a section on the line-6 6 of Fig. .y yf5, but showingthevposition-.of the parts and abottle inthe movement ofthe latterupwardly readyto-releasef the cap feeder.v

Fig.` 7 is. a view similar to `Figf, buty yshowingth"e bottle. inl its'`extreme 'up' ,posix tion* and 4receiving al cap, and the feeder. re-"leased `a`nd-ready*-to-ffeed adcap to capping fpositinfor thenextbottles.;` 2 t f Fig. 8 is a view similar to 6 7 1928. Serial N0.279,699.

but showing the position of the parts and the feeder locked, as when abottle is not positioned in its support.

Fig. 9 is a section on the line 9-9 of Fig. 6, parts being broken away.

Fig. 10 is a section on the line 10-10 of Fig. 9. Fig. 11 is a sectionon line 11-11 of Figs. 1 and 7. y

In the drawings, 1 indicates a support on which is mounted a bottlesupportin 'member 2 capable of moving upwardly an downwardly and alsorotatably thereon, the rotation being effected intermittently,preferably one step between .each up and down movement, so as tosuccessively position `bottles below or in registry with the cappingmechanism, as well as the filling valves or nozzles. I have shown myimproved capping mechanism incorporated or associated with a fillingmechanism, since a single supporting member 2 may be utilized to supportand carry the bottles while being filled and capped, so that in eachupward movement thereof capping of one bottle and filling of anotherbottle may be effected simultaneously. This also simplifies theoperations since each bottle is positioned and removed from the supportbut once.

The support 1 comprises a base la on which is mounteda casing 1b. Thecasmg 1b in turn supports an upright member 10 which serves as asuitable guide and shaft for the member 2 as it moves up and down androtates; by preference the upright member 1c is supported by a bracket1d on the inner wall of the casing 1b.`

s indicates a holder for iiqiiiags'uch as milk, having. a. bottomapreferabl coI`n prising a casting. Near `one side the ttom 3a isprovided withahollow bossvb internally threaded and screwed on to the .uperend 0f the .upright member'ylcfy In-this arrangement, the supportingmember v2fha's a portionf mits readyaccess; to the-bottleholdin ljaws 2aprovided on the member 2 so that t ev 'op-N100 erative may position abottle in each thereof at the position A and rem-ove each bottle at theposition B.

The holder 3 is supplied with liquid preferably by an inlet 4 leadingfrom a reservoir. The bottom 3a is provided with a series of openings 5the axes of which are disposed in an arc struck from the axis on whichthe member 2 rotates and in each opening 5 is mounted a valve 6 soconstructed that upon the engagement of the bottle mouth witha portionthereof in theiupward movement of the member 2, the valve will be openedand allow the liquid to flow into the bottle, providing the latter isnot completely filled. I provide a plurality of valves so that in theevent the bottle is not filled while operating the first valve it willbecome filled before passing the last valve. As shown, the valves areuniformly spaced and in each\angular movement of the member 2 it ismoved a distance equal to the angle between adjoining valves; andthecapping mechanism is so arranged agularly relative to the last valve 6that in each period of rest between angular movements a pair of jaws 2aor the opening therebetween registers therewith and each of the valves6.

The operating mechanism comprises the following: 7 is a member driven byany suitable means (not shown). The member 7 drives a shaft 8 whichthrough gears 9, 10, drives a shaft 11. The shaft 11, through a Worm 12and worm gear 13, drives a transverse shaft 14. 15 is a cam fixed to theshaft 14. 16 is a roller engaging the cam, mounted on the lower end of athrust member 17 slidable within the upright member 1c. The upper end ofthe thrust member carries a cross rod 18, which extends through slots 19formed in the member 1c and is connected to a tubular member 20 to raiseand lower the latter. The tubular member slides on the upright member 1cand also forms a shaft on which a sleeve 21 rotates. The sleeve 21carries the supporting member2. Suitable means, a portion of which isshown at 22 and forming a part of the operating mechanism, is connectedto the sleeve`21 to rotate it predetermineddistances intermittently toeffect the registry already referred to.

The driving connection shown consists of an up-standing pin 23 andbifurcated lugs 24 on sleeve 21, one of which lugs is arranged tostraddle the pin each time the sleeve moves to its lower position, asshown in full lines in Fig. 1, there being as many lugs 24 on the lowerend of the sleeve as there are jaws 2a on the member 2. To lock themember 2 against rotative movement when moved to its upper position,each-lug 24 is adapted to engage a pin 25 fixed to and depending fromthe upper wall ofthe casing 1b.

The operating means ma be similar to that shown in Letters Patent o.1,463,998, dated August 7, 1923. .It will be understood that the raisingand lowering means and rotating means co-operate so that the member 2 israised and lowered and rotated one step or predetermined distancealternately, the rotative movements being effected when the member 2 isin its lower position. As the means for operating the member 2 form nopart of the present invention7 further description thereof is deemedunnecessary.

The jaws 2a preferably comprise recesses formed in the periphery of themember 2, these recesses being suitably shaped and of a size to receivethe neck of the bottle, whereby its collar or fiange portion around thebottle mount may rest on the upper surface of the member and besupported thereby. To yieldinglyy lock 'the bottles in the recesses, Iprovide in each recess a pair of pins 26. The pins are slidably mountedin the side walls of the recess and are normally pressed outwardly bysprings also mounted within the wall of the recess. These pinsyieldingly engage the opposite outer portions of the bottle neck to holdthe latter in the adjacent recess, but readily recede into theirsupporting openings to allow the operative to position each bottle neckin the recess or remove it therefrom.

27 indicates a bracket extending outwardly from the casting 3a, beinpreferably bolted to the lower side thereof. The bracket 27 is shaped toprovide two legs 28, 28, to provide operating space for parts to belater described. The legs support at their outer ends upright rods 29.The rods 29 serve as supports and guides for a cross head 30 which hashollow bosses 31 slidably fitting the rods. The bosses 31 rest oncollars or sleeves 32 removably fitting the rods 29. By substitutingsleeves of a different length, the cross head 30 may be supported at anydesired height. Between the upper end of each boss 31 and a collar 33threaded on the upper end of the adjacent rod 29 and surrounding thelatter is a coiled spring 34, the springs 34 normally acting on thebosses 31 and serving as a yielding support or abutment for the crosshead to -yieldingly resist upward movement thereof,

as will later appear. By adjusting the collars 33, thetension of thesprings 34 may be increased or diminished as may be deslred. As shown,the intermediate portion of the cross head 30 is shaped to form a collar35 in which is adjustably supported the shank 36 of a cylindrical shapeddevice 37. The lower end of the device 37 operates to seat a cap C inthe mouth d of each bottle D in the upward movement of the latter, aswill be hereinafter set forth, for which reason the device has adiameter substantially equal to the diameter of the caps. The shank 36snugly fits the collar 35 so that it will be supported in asubstantially rigid manner, but it may be adjusted endwise so that thelower end of the device 37 will disposed at the holder for the caps'Cfor the bottle mouths.V

proper position to effect the seating of the caps, a set screw 38servingl to engage the shank and secure it in its adjusted osition,

1 39 indicates a tubular member s idably fitting the device 37 andmovable upwardly and downwardly thereon. The lower end of the lnember 39is open to permit the device 37 to project therethrough in or during itsupward movement; the upper end of the member is formed with an opening40 through which the shank 36 extends. 41 indicates a The holder 41referably comprises two substantially semi-circular walls 41a, 41a,

formed integrally with the wall of the mem-l ber 39 and forming achamber corresponding in cross section to the shape of the caps. Thefree ends of the walls 41a are slightly spaced to form an opening fromtop to bot- -tom of the holder whereby the feed and supply of the capsmay be inspected from time to time. The lower portion of the holder 41has a bore'substantially equal to the diameter of the caps C; above thisportion, the bore is enlar ed slightly as shown at 41?). As the caps areusually supplied in tubes, this form of construction allows the open endof the tube to be inserted in the holder and engaged with the shoulder41?) so that the caps may gravitate downwardly through the lower portionof the holder. In this arrangement, the tube cooperates with the wal s41a to cover the caps and as an extension of the holder, thus making itunnecessary to increase the hei ht of the holder, but

at the same time provi ing for a large supply of caps each time a tubeof caps is placed within the walls 41a.

42 indicates an annular member secured to the lower end of the tubularmember 39 and carrying at one side a guide 43 extending in a directionparallel to a line cutting the axes of the member 39 and holder 41 so asto lie below the latter. As shown in Fig. -7, the guide 43 receives thelowermost cap C when the feeder 44 (to which reference will later bemade) is moved to its outer position and forms a delivery plate for thecap when the feeder 44 moves to its inner osition, as shown in Fig. 6,the annular member 42 being cut away at 45 to permit each cap C to befed into capping position at or below the lower end of the member 39.The annular member 42 is secured by suitable screws to a fiange 46extending partially around the lower end of themember 39. The inner wallof the annular member 42 is formed with a series of ribs 47 the purposeof which is to form a 'rou h surface to prevent the caps from droppingthrough the member; and the lower end of the annular member is shaped tocause a centering of the bottle mouth with respectto the tubulark member39 .as the bottle D moves u wardly and its free end engages therewit(see Fig. 7).

The feeder 44 comprises a plate 44a slidable on the uide 43 and having athickness equal to or sllghtly less than that of a cap so as to engagethe lowermost one of the pile or stack, its front or feeding edge beingcurved, as shown in Fig. 9. The central portion of the plate 44a isthickened to form on its lower face a rib 446 fitting a channel 48formed in the guide 43 and guided thereby.

The outer portion of the plate 44a has laterall extending portions 49which are secure by screws 49a to a yoke 50 having portions slidablyengaging the outer longitudinal sides of the guide 43 (see Fig. 10) Thelateral portions 49 are arranged to engage abutments 49 at either sideof the guide 43 to arrest the inward movement of the feeder 44. It willbe understood that through the engagement of the feeder 44 with theabutment.

the yoke 50 is provided with a pair of upstanding lugs 51 between whichis pivoted, by a pivot pin, the outer end of a link 52. The opposite orinner ends of the links 52 are connected to the legs 53 of a bifurcatedlever 54, fulcrumed at 55 on a lug 56 provided on the inner side wall ofthe tubular member 39. The opposite endof the lever 54 is pivotallyconnected to the outer end of a link 57. The inner end of the link 57 ispivotally connected to the shank 36 of the seating device 37, the shankbeing formed with slot 36a to receive the link 57 and to permit it toswing about its pivot, and the'tubular member 39 being formed with aslot 39a through which the link 57 swings. y

Fi 6 shows the position of the tubular mem er 39, feeder 44 and linkagebetween the latter and the capping device 37 when the bottle supportingmember 2 is rotating and during its up movement before engagement withthe annular member 42 and during its down movement following itsdisengagement from the latter. This view also showsthe supporting member2 and a bottle D thereon moving upwardly. By further movement upwardlyof the bottle to the position shown in Fig. 7, the bottle engages themember 42 and slides the tubular member 390m the seating device 37 .andpermits the latter to force or seat the cap C in the bottle mouth d andthe tubular member in turn, through the linkage moves the vfeeder 44'toits outer position beyond the pile of-capsC. lAs the `member 39positioned y"for seating ini' lthe mouth of the next bottlefwh'ichoperation is ShOWIlIlD Figi '-=.j. 1 55 moved upwardly.

I provide means, indicated as an entirety at 58, for locking andreleasing the feeder dependent upon whether a bottle D is positloned inany one or more jaws 2a in the successive up and downward movements ofthe member 2; that is, the feeder 44 is locked against inward or feedingmovement in the event, in the upward movement of the member 2, the jawsaligned with the capping device 37 do not carry a bottle and it willremain locked until a bottle is positioned and As a result, the feedingof the caps C will be dependent upon the positioning of a bottle in theaws and waste of caps or jamming thereof when for any reason theoperative fails to position bottle D in any o-nel or more of therecesses 2a, is avoided. The locking and releasing means 58 comprise aslot or opening 59 formed in the plate 44a, preferably in its frontedge, a trigger 60 trunnioned on the guide 43 between depending portionsthereof and having one end disposed in the path of movement of thebottle mouth upwardly (see Fig. 6) and carrying at its opposite end anupstanding pin 61 adapted to project into the slot 59, and a spring 62secured to the guide 43 and normally acting on the trigger to swing itspin carrying end upwardly and its opposite end downwardly. When thebottle engaging end of the` trigger. is moved to its upper position, asshown in Fig. 7 the pin 61 is below the feederplate44a andhence permitsthe latter to feed a cap C to the member 39. As shown in Fig. 6, as thebottle mouth approaches the member 42 it engages the trigger 60 andswings the pin 61 to a position below the feed plate 44a and remains inengagement with the trigger until its movement upwardly is complete andwhile receding downwardly until after the forward edge of the feedplate, in the next forward movement thereof has passed the pin 61. Asthe bottle mouth is interposed between the support 2 and the trigger460, it will be seen that when the operative failsto position a bottlein one or more jaws at the position A, operation of the trigger whenthese jaws align with the capping mechanism will not be effected;accordingly, the previously fed cap C will remain in position below thecapping device 37 and the feeder 44 remains locked by the pin 61 so thatthe next cap is not fed to the seating or cappin position, the feederremaining in this loc ed position until released by the operation of thetrigger 60 through the engagement therewith by a bottle that has beenpositioned in a succeeding pair ofl jaws. Fig. 8 shows the operation ofthe' parts when the bottle D has been omitted from a pair of jaws 2a.Under these conditions, the upper faces of the jaws or member 2, in theupward movement thereof engages the annular ember 42 and raises thetubular member 39 sliding it on the device 37,

which relative movement through the linkage slides the feeder outwardlyto its outer position, which allows the pin 6l (which is normallypressed upwardly) to project into the slot 59, and lock the feederagainst inward movement when the jaws 2a and member 2 move downwardly.Accordingly it will be seen that the feeding or delivery of thelowermost cap C from the holder 41 is not effected. The pin 61 willremain in its lockingposition until a pair of jaws carrying a bottle Daligns with the capping device; then as the bottle moves upwardly, itsmouth will engage the trigger and withdraw the pin 61, allowing thefeeder 44 to slide inwardly as the bottle moves downwardly thus feedinga cap for the next or succeeding bottle that is brought into cappingposition.

63 indicates a conduit for supplying lubricants to parts of theapparatus.

By providing the springs 29 between the cross head 30 and collars 33, ayielding resistance is provided to effect a seating and sealing of thecaps in the bottle mouths; these springs also compensate for movement ofthe device 37 upwardly beyond the positionv necessary to eEect capping.

It will be noted lthat in my form of construction, the bottles aresupported or suspended by their necks, so that bottles, irrespectiveoftheir capacities may be pre'- sented to the filling valves and cappermechanism without requiring adjustment or changing of any part or partsof themachine. In this arrangement the bottle support, when in itslowermost. position, is slightly below the capping mechanism and engageswith a portion thereof in its upward movement, but by providing alocking and releasing means, which is controlled by a portion of thebottle, the feed of the caps takes place only when a bottle is inposition, so that the engagement of the bottle support with theoperation of a portion of the capping mechanism is ineffective to feed acap.

To those skilled in the art to which my invention relates, many changesin construction and widely differing embodiments and applications of theinvention will suggest themselves without departing from the spirit andscope thereof. My disclosures and the description herein are purelyillustrative and are not intended to be in any sense limiting.

What I claim is:

1. In apparatus of 'the class described, the combination of a support, amember movable upwardly and downwardly on said support and arranged tohold a bottle, a capping mechanism on said support comprising a fixedelement engaging a cap to seat it in the bottle mouth in the upwardmovement of the bottle and an element movable on said fixed element, areciprocating feeder carried by said movable element, a linkageconnected to said elements and operated by their relalli tive movementsfor reciprocating said feeder, means for locking the feeder againstmovement, said means including a device disposed in the path of movementof a portion of the bottle for preventing operation of said lockingmeans.

2. In apparatus of the class described, the combination of a support, amember movable upwardly and downwardly thereon and arranged to hold abottle, a capping mechanism on said support, said mechanism including amovable element arranged to be moved by said member or a bottle when thelatter is positioned thereon, a feeder actuatedv by said elements, meansfor locking the feeder against movement in one direction, and meansarranged to be engaged by a portion of the bottle for moving the lockingmeans to an inoperative position.

3. In apparatus of the class described, the combination of a support, amember movable upwardly and downwardly thereon and provided with meansfor engaging the neck of a bottle to hold it, a capping mechanism onsaid support, said mechanism including a movable element arranged `to bemoved by said member or a bottle when the latter 1s positioned thereon,a feeder actuated by said element, means for locking the feeder againstmovement in one direction, and means disposed below said movable elementand arranged to be engaged by the bottle mouth to move said lockingmeans into inoperative position.

4. In apparatus of the class described, the combination of a support, amember movable upwardly and downwardly thereon and provided with meansfor engaging the neck of direction, said device vhaving a portionarranged to be engaged and operated by each bottle to move said deviceinto inoperative scribed my name.

CLIFFORD MORROW.

a bottle to hold it, a capping mechanism on said support, said mechanismincluding a movable element arranged to be moved by said member or abottle whren the latter is positioned thereon,`a feeder actuated by saidelement, means for locking the feeder against movement in one direction,said locking means comprising a trunnioned device one end of which isarranged to engage said feeder to lock it against movement in onedirection and the other end of which is 'ar ranged to be engaged by thebottle to move the opposite end out of locking position and a spring forswinging said device in one direction.

5. In apparatus of the class described, the combination of asupport, amember mounted thereon to move upwardly and downwardly and rotativelypredetermined distances and carrying devices for removably holdingbottles, a capping mechanism on said support comprising a seatingdevice, a reciprocating feeder and a device actuated by said bottle.holdin i member or the'respective bottles thereo for operating saidfeeder, and a spring operated device normally positioned to lock saidfeeder against movement 1n one

